In this video, I explain that most people don’t understand the subtle difference between success and failure. They think they are two sides of a coin.

Now let’s take this misunderstanding of the relationship between success and failure one step further—being afraid to fail.

You see, many people are so afraid of failing or losing that they never make any big moves. They don’t understand that failure or loss often play an important role in success and fulfillment.

By and large, given the choice, most people would rather not lose something than gain something.

However, if you’re not prepared to lose, you’ll always play it safe. And there’s no reward in that because you’ll never discover what you are capable of.

You won’t achieve a worthy goal by playing it safe

Is there a job, an idea, or a business you would like to go after but you’re holding back because you’re afraid of failing or what you might lose?

Yes, it can be a frightening proposition to walk into the unknown. And it could lead to a loss—money, time, etc.

But think about this: The choice to play small could involve much greater losses. Loss of confidence, growth, and unforeseen opportunities. And think about how those losses might be compounded one, five, and ten years down the road.

Are you really willing to live with that?

Adopt a new perspective

Instead of thinking of a setback as a failure, take control of your paradigm by changing your perspective. Start thinking of failures as temporary defeats.

Think about it.

As I mentioned in the video, when you think you’ve failed at something, it puts your mind and body in a terrible vibration. However, if you look at it as a temporary defeat, it can be a blessing in disguise.

Temporary defeats tend to bring us up with a jerk and cause us to redirect our energies along a different path. They are nature’s way of strengthening us and giving us the courage necessary to reach our goals.

There are many paths that lead to where you want to go. Take a step and if it doesn’t work, look at it as a temporary defeat. Then, choose another path.

As with anything, viewing a temporary defeat as a blessing in disguise is much easier said than done. However, keep the following three points in mind to help you garner the courage to stay the course and obtain the success you desire:

1. No one ever got up from the knockout blow of defeat without being stronger and wiser from the experience.
2. Advancement of all kinds is generally preceded by a crisis. The greater the crisis, the greater the opportunity for advancement.
3. There is no problem outside of you that is superior to the power that is within you.

Accept that failure and loss are unavoidable if you want to succeed in life. Embrace each setback with the understanding that the key to winning is to keep getting up and moving forward until you reach your goal.

To your success,

Bob Proctor